Private Face the Block

[Darth Strosius]

The systems and worlds that had encompassed the former Rimward Trade League hadn't quite provided the vast open frontier that most would expect of the Outer Rim. Those still clinging to the remnants of the dead power and those that had settled in its bones first had made the expansion of the Sith Order something of a slog to get through. Still pushed through of course, but one that held quite the price in soldiers, ships, and material to do it. From His understanding, the vast majority of the expansion into the Rim had been spearheaded by the Second Legion. The second largest force within the Sith dedicated almost entirely to mopping up Rimward resistance and pockets of fortified rebellious groups.

Important centers of trade and resources such as worlds like Seswenna had been hit the hardest in brutal campaigns that left little room for resistance to crop up behind the ever advancing lines of the Second Legion. Alongside their fleets and armies came the other forces of the Sith Order as well of course, eager to try and claim their own slices of new territory and influence in the wake of the Legion. Yet despite the great successes and key victories the campaign itself was far from done. And with a potential threat newly arising to pose a serious blockage to the Legion's path.

Which was where He came in.

Darth Strosius stepped out of His shuttle and into one of the hangars of the Úlfs Reiði without much fanfare or any escort to speak of. While His past interactions with the Emperor's Execution had been surprisingly pleasant, He saw no reason to tempt fate with some sort of show of force. He was very much in the Wolf's domain now, at the heart of the Second Legion's fleet, and He had no intentions of trying to appear any grander just to save face. It wasn't as if He had anything worthwhile to show off that would be of interest to the Legion at the moment anyway, His life itself being the most impressive thing that He could wield.

His return to the Sith Order had been something of a delicately and deliberately subtle affair. There were no grand speeches and nothing at all in the way of displays of strength or power, all in all it was quite unlike the verbose Darth Strosius. Even His request for an audience with the Imperator of the Second Legion was somewhat unforeseen. But not at all uncalled for given the circumstances. Heavy footsteps and dragging robes signaled the march of the masked man, weaving through corridors and around the ship's crew as He made His way for the one that lorded above all the ships assembled and under repair here.

Gerwald Lechner

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

TAG: Darth Strosius

Gerwald Lechner had never been one for politics. Not the kind that required veiled words and hidden meanings, at least. He preferred the kind that was settled with the swing of a blade, the weight of command, and the raw force of will. The war had been that kind of politics. Brutal. Unrelenting. And, so far, effective.

The Outer Rim had never been easy to tame. Too many independent warlords, too many stubborn holdouts still clinging to the ashes of the Rimward Trade League. The Second Legion had cut through them like a scythe through wheat, but at a cost. The campaign had been slow, bleeding their forces dry, and every victory had been paid for in blood, steel, and fire.

So when Darth Strosius had requested an audience, Gerwald had not ignored it. He had not dismissed it outright, either. Instead, he had let the masked Sith walk straight into the wolf’s den.

The Úlfs Reiði was his domain, a ship forged in war and made for it. The Second Legion was his to command, the hammer that had broken world after world in the name of the Sith Order. And now, as he stood at the heart of his fleet, Gerwald watched as Strosius made his approach.

He was both surprised and not surprised that the Sith wasn’t dead. The galaxy had a way of swallowing men like Strosius whole, and yet, they always found a way to crawl back from the abyss. The fact that he had returned without fanfare, without some grand declaration, only made it more curious. Was he trying to protect his "brother," the one who had promised to kill him, and seemingly did not.

The man moved without hesitation, heavy steps echoing through the chamber. There was no pretense, no feigned attempt at impressing the Imperator of the Second Legion. That, at least, Gerwald respected. He had no time for the usual theatrics that Sith so often indulged in.

His yellow eyes flickered in the dim lighting of the command deck, watching as Strosius neared. His fingers twitched at his side, an old habit, though his stance remained relaxed. He had no reason to assume Strosius meant to challenge him—not yet, at least.

Still, as the Sith came to a stop, Gerwald tilted his head slightly, a wolf regarding an unfamiliar presence in his territory.

"You’ve come a long way," Gerwald said, his voice low, measured, edged with the weight of command. "I assume you didn’t make this journey just to admire my fleet. Or to show me that Malum did not kill you after all."

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius stopped short of the Wolf and offered a deep nod, the most respectful showing that He'd allow Himself to give, in greeting. "Imperator Lechner." He let out a brief hum as though considering entertaining the assumption before nodding once more. "You would be correct in that assessment, although I won't deny that seeing the forces of the Sith assembled in a manner such as this is a rather pleasing sight." It almost made Him feel nostalgic, almost comparable to the military might once wielded by the last Sith Empire. Almost. He wasn't one to be sidetracked so easily.

"Your forces have been making great progress eastward into the Outer Rim, our position here is proof enough of that, but it is no secret that your march forward has been met by obstacle after obstacle." He had managed to enlighten Himself on the actions of the Sith Order while He was indisposed, the Second Legion's activity and successes had been among the most prominent reports. "The people of the Outer Rim are a stubborn breed, hardened by generations of independent rule and less than eager to see that rule shifted to any foreign powers. Even if it would save countless lives in the process. I can certainly sympathize with such a notion even if I can't endorse it when leveled against our Order."

Darth Strosius was of the same breed after all and it very much showed even if He didn't particularly express it. There were some things that simply ran deeper than blood. "It is this sympathy that I believe could be used to our advantage. To somewhat...ease the advance of your Legion and ensure that little time and effort is needed to keep the new worlds and territory from erupting into chaos the moment that your forces move on to the next target. My followers and I specialize in turning hatred into tools, bringing unruly elements into our fold and forging them into a more ordered and loyal form." Not at all an embellishment but remarks that few knew the truth of.

"And of that does not entice you, then there is something more concrete that I can offer." He fished a datapad from His robes, visored gaze never leaving the yellow eyes of the Wolf as He did so. "A new power has risen in the Mid Rim, just beyond our borders. I fear that they could swiftly fill the void left by the Rimward Trade League if we do act quickly to stifle their influence." He offered the datapad. "I took the liberty of undertaking a small expedition into their systems. Unfortunately I could only recover the most basic of information in this first infiltration but more than enough to provide accurate targets for any coming war plans. Your Legion is the best situated to smashing these upstart before they can take root."

Gerwald Lechner

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

TAG: Darth Strosius

Gerwald accepted the nod for what it was, a measured show of respect, restrained but intentional. Strosius had never been one to grovel, and Gerwald had no interest in empty displays of fealty. What mattered was the strength to back one's words, and Strosius had survived long enough to at least warrant his attention. It was especially true considering he was supposed to be dead.

As the Sith spoke, Gerwald listened in silence. He did not react to the flattery of his Legion's progress, nor did he indulge in the nostalgia Strosius seemed to dance around. The past was dead. He had no interest in comparing the Second Legion to a fallen empire that had crumbled under its own weight. What mattered was the present, his advance, the war, and victory.

At the mention of turning hatred into tools and bending unruly elements into something more useful, Gerwald let out a low, thoughtful hum. The Second Legion did not waste resources lightly. It was a war machine, not a pacification force. They broke planets, shattered resistance, and left only what was necessary to support the next march forward. The work of keeping those conquests in line had largely been left to others. If Strosius could make that process easier, then perhaps he had some use beyond this conversation.

It was the mention of a new power that finally drew a reaction. There was a quiet shift in Gerwald's posture with a barely perceptible narrowing of his eyes as Strosius produced the datapad. Gerwald took it, his gaze never leaving the masked Sith as he thumbed through the information. He scanned it quickly taking in the territories, initial assessments, and names that might become enemies before long.

The timing was inconvenient, but war rarely waited for anyone's convenience. If another power was rising in the Mid Rim, it would only be a matter of time before they sought to challenge the Sith's expansion, whether out of ambition or desperation. Stifling them early was the logical course of action.

Gerwald let the datapad lower slightly as he finally spoke.

"You assume much," he said, his voice even and measured. "That I would be interested in wasting resources on salvaging the broken wills of those we've already crushed. That I would see value in tempering fire when it is often best to let it burn itself out."

He let the words hang for a moment before continuing.

"But you are right about one thing. The Second Legion is best suited to dealing with this threat before it becomes a true problem."

His grip on the datapad tightened slightly.

”If your intelligence is accurate, then this is worth investigating further. If your 'expedition' was sloppy, and I send my forces into a half-baked war based on unreliable intelligence…"

His gaze darkened, and though his tone remained level, there was no mistaking the weight behind the words.

"Then I will consider that a debt owed."

There was no need for threats. Strosius was a Sith. He would understand the meaning well enough.

“There is one thing I’m still curious about… how you’re still alive? I watched you die.”

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius crossed His arms behind His back as the Imperator took the datapad, watching him from behind His visor with a careful gaze. He knew far too little of the corpse's executioner for His own good. There was the concern that Gerwald would simply take the data He so eagerly offered and do nothing for Him in return, or even worse finish the execution that had seemingly been left incomplete at the Kaggath. It was almost likely in His mind, and He had mentally prepared Himself just in case this little meeting came to blows.

Thankfully though the Imperator raised words instead of a weapon once he had his fill of the datapad. "A fire that could be fueled if the pests to our east are allowed to thrive. And that's to say nothing of the Alliance's potential meddling." Any resistance was an avenue for their enemies to exploit, just as the Sith did to the weaknesses of all of their foes in turn. It was a simple truth. The Sith Order was more tenuous than most would admit and angering the population that kept it stable was a rather swift method of disillusion. Better to stamp out the fire the moment it sparked in His opinion.

The masked man inclined His head at the promise of punishment should the information be faulty, a natural assumption. While the Second Legion would one day need to be tempered for His ambitions to come to fruition, that day was no time soon and this rising power on Naboo was a far greater threat if it was left untended. "I can acquire more information in the days to come if you require more assurance, but I would not dare risk the lives of our Sith on anything foolish."

He pressed a gauntleted hand to His chest in some display of genuine intent. "Jedi are among the ranks of this Royal Republic. If they are not yet receiving aid from the Alliance then I have little doubt it won't be long until they are. The war against the Core will be difficult enough without a new threat in the Mid-Rim to occupy our forces with. I wish to see this potential thorn removed before it can tear at us, were I able to do so myself then it would already be in progress. I can guarantee my support in your operations there, for what its worth."

The question made Him pause, somewhat caught off-guard but quick to recover and mask it as a simple moment of consideration. "Indeed you did. You and most of the Sith Order watched my death. But thankfully the Force itself was watching as well, and it decided that my work in its name was not yet completed. Something that I earnestly agree with, and am thankful to have been blessed by." It was purposefully vague but Darth Strosius wasn't lying when He spoke. Some intricacies might have been omitted but it was still a fact.

In the rare moments when Sith were honest with one another was precisely where He preferred to be, truthful and yet still isolated in His view of the whole situation. A position of strength somewhat, as much of one as He could manage under the circumstances. "My revival was nothing short of a miracle. One that I doubt could be repeated again, if that is your concern." A tactful addition to the assumed intent behind the question. Nothing was unkillable, even if it had cheated death once. He now knew that better than most.

Gerwald Lechner